There is zero, let me repeat, ZERO chance of meaningful ToT for F-16 (even local production is unlikely) and the Gripen is a product of many foriegn OEMs where SAAB has little proprietary knowledge itself meaning ToT will be a very complicated affair. Whatever is needed for the AMCA or LCA MK.2 can be worked through with France, chasing after the Gripen or F16 is not going to help in any way.

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While this isn't the right thread for my post , I crave indulgence .
After the statement by a senior L & M official in the Abu Dhabi (?) Air show a few days ago , it's safe to assume the F - 16's won't figure in the calculations of the MoD .Frankly , the Gripen doesn't bring much to the table if one were to consider MII & ToT as the quoted post makes clear .

Howrver there remains a slim chance of getting these SE LCA's off the shelf if we are to make up the depleting nos rapidly .It'd also prove to be cost effective & save time as opposed to the MII now adopted by the MP led MoD as some sort of gospel .Here , the F-16's stand a better chance than the Gripen & should be the way forward .

If the MoD persists in its stance of MII for the 100 - 200 odd SE LCA FA , it leaves the line clear for more Mk1a & Mk2.

If that's the case , can you explain why are they going for the S400 ADS or the Su 35 . How far has their TE plans progressed ? How advanced are their AESA radars , if they have any developed ?They've just developed an MTA for their passenger liner .That may see other commercial or military applications too .How good are their AWACS? How do we know their stealth AC programme is the equivalent of better than the F35 or even the F22?

It isn't like they do not want to get their hand on other goodies just that they aren't getting any from the Europeans , the Israelis & certainly not from the Japanese & the Americans .

While they have some way to travel , they're right now at the same stage the former USSR was in the 70's .Their weapons & plarforms had their own USP's .While they weren't top of the notch ones ( at least not in every segment ) , they were effective in the right hands .

While they aren't as bad as we'd like to think or the western world makes it out to be , they certainly aren't as good or state of the art cutting edge stuff that the Chinese would like you to think too.

See , China will take 10-15 years more to get to the level[purely technological] of Russia [of today], forget about USA/Western Europe.

But technology alone does not win wars or establish a monopoly, and China has the resources , with which even with current growth rate it will gain the title of Single most capable warfighting institution in 2 Decades.

But I would like to share this with you , actually the Radars, Sonar, EW, Combat Management Systems, SAM, Torpedoes , Fixed and Rotary wing , Armour Capability , etc , etc ..... they have been greatly aided by west. To the extent that when Chinese failed to licence manufacture American Torpedoes in China, USA sent its own experts to help them out. So did Italy with Sonar, Radars and SAM systems.

But I would like to share this with you , actually the Radars, Sonar, EW, Combat Management Systems, SAM, Torpedoes , Fixed and Rotary wing , Armour Capability , etc , etc ..... they have been greatly aided by west. To the extent that when Chinese failed to licence manufacture American Torpedoes in China, USA sent its own experts to help them out. So did Italy with Sonar, Radars and SAM systems.

So they are quite capable.

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Thanks for responding .
There seems to be some conflict in your views there .But I won't dwell on it .

The exchanges you are talking about must be in the pre 1990 era .For ,since then , there has been a complete embargo on sales of military equipment & dual use items by the West to China .Granted there have been lapses here & there by the Italians, the French & the Israelis but they have desisted from proceeding when asked to do so by the US.

I'm not denying their capabilities , just trying to appraise them in the right manner .

If UAE and Russia are planning to develop a new 5th generation fighter jet then they should seriously consider joining hands with India as this partnership will bring down cost tremendously. India should push hard for this partnership, it will also bring UAE closer together with India.

If UAE and Russia are planning to develop a new 5th generation fighter jet then they should seriously consider joining hands with India as this partnership will bring down cost tremendously. India should push hard for this partnership, it will also bring UAE closer together with India.

If UAE and Russia are planning to develop a new 5th generation fighter jet then they should seriously consider joining hands with India as this partnership will bring down cost tremendously. India should push hard for this partnership, it will also bring UAE closer together with India.

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I am still wondering why should UAE go for fifth generation fighter. Rafale should be enough for them. I think this is Modi's genious plan if at all this is true to lure them of the capability and get them become a partner thus reducing cost of development as it will be shared now between three countries. It's a masterstroke if it's true.

If UAE and Russia are planning to develop a new 5th generation fighter jet then they should seriously consider joining hands with India as this partnership will bring down cost tremendously. India should push hard for this partnership, it will also bring UAE closer together with India.

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Actually it looks more like Russia is desperate to get export and funding and is even ready to sell to countries, that potentially pose a threat to Russias partners in the region. Gulf countries getting stealth techs is a direct threat to Iran and India, for us it doesn't even need to be the fighter itself that opposes us, but it's techs finding it's way to Pakistan.

There is a reason why western countries kept limits to what is available for the Gulf countries, but if Russia is pushing this, the chances for new wars in the middle east will grow, which also will effect us at least economically. Man and we still are debating about LCA.

Also if Russia finds other countries that can fund their developments, that's not good but bad for India. So far they were dependent on China and us buying their stuff in big procurements. If they get other ways to get the money, it makes them more independent from us, therefor we have less leverage on them.